Valve operating button and method of and apparatus for using the same in charging aerosol dispensers



Feb. 25, 1964 R VALVE OPERATING BUTTON THE SAME IN Filed May 51, 1962 H. ABPLANALP 3,12 80 AND METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR USING CHARGING AEROSOL DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A INVENTOR. Eosem' HENRY ABPLANA LP ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 R. H.

VALVE OPERATING BUTTON AND THE SAME IN Filed May :51, 1962 w 2 1G a N 8 2M h 2U 4 R w 0 F w S & wmz mm E ABPLANALP METHOD OF AND AP CHARGING AEROSOL DISP 5 y 5 O M 9 m w M 4 7 3 m w 8 6 (5 m .,H Ufa 24 flmzfz f fwwwm f/A \b. 5 \\\\\\\K\\XX\ m a Ila/71 m 2 J d g m a 5 7% L w a a /\8 a J v 9 llll h 9 ll. 4 v ll/W a w 5 J ATTORNEY United States Patent VALVE ()PERATENG BUTIQN AND METHQD 6F AND APPARATUS FGR USING THE SAME IN CHARGENG AERGSOL DEPENSERS Robert Henry Abplanaip, 1ft Hewitt Ave, Bronxville, N.Y. Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 199,tit}9 9 Claims. (Cl. 141-3) This invention relates generally to a method and physical means for charging aerosol dispensers with a propellant.

More particularly the invention is directed to that type of practice in the aerosol field wherein a predetermined quantity of active ingredient is supplied to a container of any appropriate kind, hereinafter referred to as a can, equipped with a manually operable discharge valve having a tubular valve stem through which a propellant is introduced into the can after the can has been otherwise sealed. According to this practice, the valve stem is depressed to open the valve by pressure applied thereto by an appropriate charging head and the propellant, supplied through the charging head, is introduced into the can through and around the tubular valve stem, while the valve is held opened and before the push button is applied to the valve stem.

In such prior practice, it is common to provide a charging head with a relatively large chamber which is brought into such relation to the can that a hermetic seal is provided between the open bottom of said chamber and the top of the can through the use of one or more resilient gaskets. The propellant is then introduced into said chamber under pressure and flows through the valve stem into the can while the valve is held open. This procedure, While capable of carrying out the operation of charging the can, is wasteful of propellant because the chamber has to be completely filled with the propellant under pressure before it is fed into the can and said chamber always has a relatively large volumetric capacity. Consequently, after the charging operation is completed and the valve of the can permitted to seal, an excess quantity of propellant which remains in this relatively large chamber, is exhausted to the atmosphere and lost. This constitutes an expensive waste of propellant. Furthermore, gaskets used in the carrying out of this procedure are required to make a good hermetic seal and, since they are subjected to considerable wear and strain, they have to be changed often in order to remain effective.

()ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide apparatus and valve operating button adapted to so cooperate with one another in the performance of a novel method to permit the charging of the can in such a way that very little propellant is lost or wasted in the charging of each can and this may be done without the use of any gaskets.

According to this invention, the charging head makes a hermetic seal directly with the valve operating button instead of by direct engagement with the can as heretofore. By so doing, the chamber in the head is sealed above a sealing zone on the button. This so-called upper chamber is in communication with the discharge outlet of the button so that propellant admitted into said upper chamber is fed through the aerosol discharge passages of the button into the can when the valve of the latter is open.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the button is so constituted that, during the charging operation, it engages the can below said sealing zone to form about the valve stem a lower chamber or enclosure of very small volumetric capacity. In the button are formed one or more ducts so located as to establish communication between the upper and lower chambers whereby propellant may be fed from the former to the latter, to enter the can around the exterior of the valve stem when the can valve is open.

With the foregoing structure, both the upper and lower chambers may be made of very little volumetric capacity when the button is in place during the charging operation so that loss or waste of propellant is nil. Moreover, as will hereinafter be explained, it is possible according to this invention to entirely dispense with the use of gaskets to form the requisite seals.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical central section through a portion of an aerosol can with the pedestal and valve stem shown in elevation, a valve operating push button on the valve stem in central section and cooperating portions of a charging head also in central section, the parts being shown in assembled relation and in non-charging relation.

FIG. 2 is like unto FIG. 1, but shows the parts in charging positions.

FIG. 3 is a central vertical section through the button taken on the line 33 of H6. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, but shows a modified form of button.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 1, but illustrates a modified form of this invention with the parts shown in noncharging relation.

FiG. 6 shows the parts of FIG. 5 in charging relation.

FIG. 7 is a section of the button shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings I shave shown an aerosol can of the character disclosed in my Patent No. 2,631,814, which comprises a can body 1, its top opening being closed by a mounting cup 2 which forms part of the can so far as the present invention is concerned. This mounting cup has a pedestal 3 containing a manually operable valve having a hollow valve stem 4. For the purpose of more detailed disclosure of these parts, my said patent is herein incorporated by reference.

Mounted on the valve stem 4 is a valve operating button 5 provided in its bottom with a socket 6 to receive the valve stem 4 with a close fit. The discharge outlet 7 of the button is connected by appropriate passages 8 interiorly of the button, with the socket 6 so that during dispensing operations of the aerosol material in the can, such material is fed through the hollow valve stem and through said passages 8 to the discharge outlet 7 from which it is discharged to the atmosphere. These passages 8 may widely vary in accordance with the present invention which is not primarily directed to the particular character of these passages. For example, passages may be as shown in the push button of my aforesaid patent or according to Patent No. 3,008,654, issued November 14, 1961, to Precision Valve Corporation, as assignee of John Richard Pocht and me, and British Patent No. 826,527, of August 15, 1957, issued to Precision Valve Corporation, the disclosures of which patents are also incorporated herein by reference.

In the construction of FIGS. 1-3, the button is provided with a peripheral sealing abutment 9, a depending annular rib It) on the under side of the button, and one or more charging ducts 11 which extend vertically through the button from the upper surface thereof to its bottom surface and intersecting said surface within the confines of the rib 1'9 and radially spaced from the socket 6 of the button.

The abutment 9 may be fiat or sloping as desired, but it is preferably made to substantially conform in shape to an annular surface 9a formed on the interior of a tubular portion 12 of a charging head H, so that, when the charging head is lowered, the surface 9a will engage with the cooperating abutment 9 and form therewith an annular sealing zone indicated at SZ in FIGS. 1 and 2. In practice the button is injection molded from polyethylene or some other plastic material which has sufficient inherent yielding or resilient properties as to closely conform to the surface 9a and form therewith a tight seal at the sealing zone.

Below the surface 9a, the tubular part 12 is flared outwardly, as shown at 13, to provide proper clearance and also serve to center the can with respect to the charging head. The outer surface of the tubular part 12 may also be tapered, as at 14, to assist in centering the parts by contact with the mounting cup 2 although the lower end of the part 12 should not contact with the base of said cup 2. Except in the particulars stated, the charging head H is conventional. It is provided as usual with a charging passage 15 with any suitable valve 16 to control the flow of propellant therethrough into a chamber 17 which will hereinafter be referred to as the upper chamber.

The annular rib 10 at the bottom of the button is adapted, when the button is depressed into charging position, to engage with the top surface of the pedestal 3 and, beingof yielding plastic material, will form through such engagement, a tight seal with said pedestal.

The ducts 11, which are shown as two in number, are to provide passageways for the propellant fed through the passage 15 of the charging head H.

In carrying out the method of this invention, according'to the showing of FIGS. 13, an aerosol can 1 containing an active ingredient is positioned in cooperative relation with a filler head H and the filler head and can brought into the relative position shown in FIG. 1. At this time the valve of the container is closed.

The parts are then moved from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2 to cause the surface 9a of tubular portion 12 to be pressed firmly against the upper surface of the abutment 9 at the sealing zone SZ. As this movement continues, the push button is depressed, carrying with it the valve stem 4 until the annular sealing rib engages the top surface of the pedestal to form with the latter a hermetic seal for a'lower chamber or enclosure 18. By that time, there will be two hermetic seals produced, namely, between the rib 10 and the can and between the surface 9a and the abutment 9, so that both the upper and lower chambers 17 and 18 are sealed with respect to the atmosphere.

Further slight downward movement of the filler head will depress the valve stem 4 sufficiently to open its associated can'valve and thus establish communication between the interior of the can and the passage 15 of the filler head. It is essential that these seals be made before the valve 15 of the filler head is opened to permit the feed of propellant under pressure through the passage 15.

As soon as the valve 16 is opened, propellant under pressure will be fed into the relatively small chamber '17-below the lower end of the-passage 15 and above the hermetic seal formed at the. abutment 9.' At the same time the thus fed propellant will pass from the chamber 17 downwardly through the ducts 11 into the 7 through. the discharge outlet 7 and the chamber and passages 8 of the button to the interior passage of the "valve stem and through'this passage downwardly to and through the open valve into the can. At the same time, propellant will be fed from chamber or enclosure 17 through ducts 11 to the lower chamber 18 and from there downwardly around the outer surface of the valve stem and through the clearance space between the valve stem and the pedestal and thence downwardly through the open valve into the interior of a can. Consequently there is a feed of the propellant into the can both through the interior of and about the exterior of the valve stem in order to effect rapid charging. Many valves are so constructed as to permit this type of filling, but with very considerable waste of propellant as hereinbefore stated.

The valve of my Patent No. 2,631,814 also will permit of the same kind of filling without waste because the resilient sealing gasket of that patent will yield to permit the passage of propellant under pressure into the can when thus fed.

Particular stress is laid at this point upon the relatively small volumetric capacity of the chambers 17 and 18. These chambers contain at any time a very small quantity of propellant and consequently there is very little propellant contained therein to be wasted at the conclusion of the charging operation.

After the can has been charged in the manner described the valve 16 of the charging head is closed and the charging head H is raised or the can lowered, as the case may be. As this operation occurs the valve of the can is first closed by its spring within the can and, as it is closed, the valve stem is lifted along with the push button until the parts re-assume the position of FIG. 1. Thereafter continued elevation of the filler head or lowering of the can, moves the push button and can from within the confines of the filler head and the can may be removed and is ready for the market. A very small quantity of propellant contained in the chambers 17 and 18 will of course puff out as the filler head and can are separated, but because of the small volumetric capacity of these chambers, a negligible amount of propellant is lost.

of economy. 7

In the button shown in FIGS. 1-3, the ducts. 11 extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the r a button. However, in practice, the only requisite for the positioning of these ducts is that they connect the upper and lower chambers 17 and 18 respectively above and below the sealing zone. These ducts may thus occupy many positions so long as they supply that criteria. Thus in FIG. 4, a series of ducts 11:: extend from the lower surface of the button within the confines of the rib It) to the lateral surface of the button and thus provide a bypass of the sealing zone. The mode of operation is the same with the button of FIG. 4 as with the button of FIGS. 1-3.

In the figures of the drawings thus far described, an abutment is formed with a definite sealing surface, such as 9, adapted to engage with a cooperating surface on the sealing head. With such an arrangement it is entirely practical to elfectcharging of the can through'direct contact between the charging head and the ,button and between the button and the can without the employment of any gaskets whatsoever, and thus the necessity of gasket maintenance which has proved to be quite troublesome in prior constructions, is avoided.

However, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a system wherein a sealing zone is effected between the charging head and the button without the use of cooperating abutments but through the employment of an elastic gasket carried by the charging head and adapted to be operated thereby to form a sealing zone between the charging head and the button by engagementwith the periphery of the button and through relative movement between parts of the charging'head.

This is in pronounced contradistinction' to pr or practice as hereinbefore stated and this inven-. tron is therefore highly important from the standpoint V In FIGS. 5 and 6, the charging head H is provided with two relatively movable parts, that is to say, the body 19 of the head having therein a chamber 17a into which propellant may be introduced through a passage a controlled by a valve 16a and embracing the body 19 is a sleeve provided near its bottom with an internal shoulder 21 adapted to normally support an elastic gasket 22. The lower end of the body 19 is internally tapered at 23 to cooperate with the gasket 22 for the purpose of compressing said gasket in an inward radial direction against the lateral surface 24 of the button 5a. The button is provided with an external bead or abutment 25 positioned below the discharge outlet 7a of the button. Propellant ducts 11a extend from the lower surface of the button within the confines of the bead 10a and merge at the lateral surface of the button well above the bead or abutment.

In practicing the present invention with the structure, such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the can is brought into cooperative relation with the head H, while the head parts are in the relative positions shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted from this figure that the gasket 22 closely surrounds the button above the bead 25, but is preferably free from contact with the button.

To charge the can the sleeve 26 is first lowered to the position shown in FIG. 5, leaving the gasket 22 supported by the head 25. The body 19 of the head is then lowered to bring this tapered lower edge 23 into contact with the gasket 22 and, as it continues to descend, said tapered lower edge compresses the gasket 22 inwardly while said gasket is retained against downward movement by the head 25, so that there is formed between the tapered portion 23 and the button a sealing zone wherein a hermetic seal is efiected. By this time the lower edge of the bead 10a has formed a hermetic seal with the top surface of the pedestal 3 of the can and the upper chamber 17a and lower chamber or enclosure 18a are isolated from one another, except for the communicating passages 11a. Slight further downward movement of the body 19 of the head will depress the valve stem 4 sufficiently to unseat the can valve and immediately thereafter the valve 16a is opened to permit propellant to how into the upper chamber 17a and from that chamber into the lower chamber 18a to permit charging of the can with such propellant in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

After the can has been fully charged, the head parts 19 and 20 are retracted to break the seal at the gasket 22 and bring about release of the button, so that the can valve may close. The charged can may then be removed from the machine.

In all of the forms of the invention illustrated, the upper and lower chambers may be made of relatively small volumetric capacity so that relatively little propellant is lost and wasted for each charging operation.

In practice, any number of propellant ducts 11 or 11a may be employed. In FIGS. 13 inclusive, two such ducts are shown While in FIG. 7, four ducts are illustrated.

The button of the present invention is economical to manufacture and the incorporation of the novel features thereof do not materially add to its cost.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure as Letters Patent is:

1. A resilient plastic valve operating push button for an aerosol dispensing can, having a socket for containing the stem of the valve of the can and communicating with the passage therein, a peripheral abutment adapted to make a hermetic seal with a charging head and also provided with a downwardly projecting rib of a length and size to engage with and make a hermetic seal with a can,

6 and at least one propellant charging duct leading from within the confines of said rib to a surface of the button above the peripheral abutment.

2. A resilient plastic valve operating push button for an aerosol dispensing can, having a socket in its bottom to receive the valve stem of the can, said socket communicating with the discharge passage in said valve stem, and aerosol discharge passages within the button leading from the socket to a discharge outlet, said button also having a peripheral abutment for sealing engagement with the head of a charging machine, and an annular sealing rib projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the button around the socket and positioned intermediate the socket and the periphery of the button, said sealing rib being adapted to form a hermetic seal with a portion of a can when engaged therewith, said button being also pro vided with at least one propellant charging duct leading from within the confines of the annular rib at the bottom surface of the button to the top surface of the button, said duct being free from communication with the socket and the discharge passages within the button.

3. An apparatus for charging an aerosol dispensing can provided with a valve having an upstanding valve stem comprising: a valve operating button mounted on the valve stem and having a socket to receive the valve stem and communicating with the discharge passage in said valve stem, said button being provided with a pcripheral abutment and having at its bottom a downwardly projecting annular rib adapted to engage and form a seal with a portion of the can surrounding the valve stem when the button is depressed to open the valve of the can, at least one propellant charging duct extending from within the confines of the annular rib upwardly to a point above said abutment and merging into the exterior surface of the button, said duct by-passing the discharge passage in the valve stem, and a charging head provided with means to peripherally engage the button to form therewith a hermetic seal.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means for forming a seal between the charging head and the button comprises a sealing surface adapted to engage with the abutment to form a hermetic seal therewith.

5. A11 apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means for forming a seal with the button comprises an elastic gasket, and means for compressing said gasket in an inward radial direction to form the hermetic seal between the charging head and the button.

6. A molded plastic valve operating push button for an aerosol dispensing can which button per se has on its exterior an exposed sealing zone surface adapted for hermetic sealing engagement with propellant charging apparatus and Within the button a liquid discharge passage including a socket to snugly receive the valve stem of an aerosol dispensing can, at least one propellant charging duct leading from the exterior surface of the button below the sealing zone surface to the exterior of the button above the sealing zone surface and free from communication with the discharge passage of the button, and means surrounding the lower end of the charging duct to form a closed chamber between the can and the button when the button is depressed to engage the button with the can.

7. In an assembly of the character described embodying an aerosol dispensing can provided therein with a manually operable valve having a valve stem with a discharge passage therethrough and normally in elevated position to close the valve of the can, a push button mounted on said valve stem and having therein a liquid discharge passage and provided on its exterior with a sealing zone surface for engaging with charging apparatus, the improvement which comprises at least one propellant charging duct within the button leading from the exterior surface of the button below the sealing zone surface to the exterior of the button above said sealing zone surface and free from communication with the liquid discharge passage of the button, and means forming a closed chamber between the can and the button when the button is depressed to engage the button with the can and con: jointly open the valve of said can, said chamber communicating with said propellant charging duct and surrounding the valve stem.

8. The herein described method of pressure charging an aerosol can having a self contained valve and a tubular valve stem carrying a valve operating push button which has therein a liquid discharge passage and a separate propellant charging duct leading through the push button, said method comprising the following steps, namely:

(a) bringing the push button of the can and a charging head having therein a charging chamber into alinement,

(b) relatively moving the charging head and can together to enclose the push button within said charging chamber to open the valve of the can and to form between the charging head and the push button per se a hermetic seal with said propellant charging duct and discharge passage of the button in communication with said chamber and to also form between the button and the can a hermetically sealed enclosure in communication with the propellant charging duct of the button, and,

(c) thereafter admitting propellant under pressure into said chamber to flow through the discharge passage of the button into the can and to also flow through the propellant charging duct into the enclosure and i) from said enclosure into the can around the exterior of the valve stem.

9. In a molded plastic valve operating push button for expediting the propellant charging of an associated aerosol dispensing can which push button is provided with a socket for containing the Valve stem and a liquid discharge passage, the improvement which comprises a sealing zone surface on the button adapted to engage with and form a hermetic seal with charging apparatus and within the button at least one propellant charging duct leading from the exterior surface of the button below the sealing zone surface to the exterior of the button above the sealing zone surface and free from communication with the liquid discharge passage of the button, and an annular sealing rib projecting downwardly at the bottom of the push button and encircling both the socket and the propellant charging duct at the bottom of the button and of sufiicient length to engage with and make a hermetic seal with a portion of an associated aerosol dispensing can to provide with the latter a chamber communicating with said propellant charging duct and surrounding the bottom end of the socket when the button is moved into engagement With the can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,708,347 Cameron May 17, 1955 2,815,889 Stetz et a1 Dec. 10, 1957 2,952,278 Waldherr Sept. 13, 1960 3,055,560 Meshberg Sept. 25, 1962 

6. A MOLDED PLASTIC VALVE OPERATING PUSH BUTTON FOR AN AEROSOL DISPENSING CAN WHICH BUTTON PER SE HAS ON ITS EXTERIOR AN EXPOSED SEALING ZONE SURFACE ADAPTED FOR HERMETIC SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH PROPELLANT CHARGING APPARATUS AND WITHIN THE BUTTON A LIQUID DISCHARGE PASSAGE INCLUDING A SOCKET TO SNUGLY RECEIVE THE VALVE STEM OF AN AEROSOL DISPENSING CAN, AT LEAST ONE PROPELLANT CHARING DUCT LEADING FROM THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE BUTTON BELOW THE SEALING ZONE SURFACE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUTTON ABOVE THE SEALING ZONE SURFACE AND FREE FROM COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE OF THE BUTTON, AND MEANS SURROUNDING THE LOWER END OF THE CHARGING DUCT TO FORM A CLOSED CHAMBER BETWEEN THE CAN AND THE BUTTON WHEN THE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED TO ENGAGE THE BUTTON WITH THE CAN. 